1. Drake Maye
Drake Maye is playing like the best quarterback in the league right now. His 118.7 passer rating and 75.2 percent completion rate lead all qualified passers. He ranks near the top in yards and touchdowns while taking care of the ball, and he has the Patriots on a five-game win streak. Even more impressive, he’s doing all of this while being sacked 28 times, the second-most in the NFL.
2. Patrick Mahomes
The NFL’s poster boy is back. After a relatively quiet start, Mahomes and the Chiefs have found their rhythm. He has thrown for at least 250 yards in each of his last five games and at least three touchdowns in four of them. The league’s most consistent star remains firmly in the MVP hunt.
3. Jared Goff
Goff continues to impress with his efficiency and decision-making. He trails only Maye in completion percentage and owns a 5-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His passer rating ranks second in the league, and his control of the Lions’ offense has been masterful through the first half of the season.
4. Matthew Stafford
Stafford has quietly been elite. Despite missing a game, he is tied for the league lead in touchdown passes and would lead in yards if he maintained his current average. His 17 touchdowns against only two interceptions show veteran precision, and if he stays hot, he could climb into the MVP conversation.
5. Daniel Jones
Jones has completely turned his career around this year. He has thrown for at least 200 yards and a touchdown in every game while leading the Colts to a 7-1 record. Shane Steichen’s system has unlocked Jones’ strengths, and his consistency has been a key to Indianapolis’ rise.
6. Josh Allen
Allen’s production has dipped a bit, but his impact remains undeniable. He has thrown 12 touchdowns and four interceptions while adding five more scores on the ground. The reigning MVP is still one of the toughest dual threats in football.
7. Sam Darnold
Darnold hasn’t been asked to do as much as others, but when he throws, he’s been deadly efficient. His 9.1 yards per attempt lead the league, and his chemistry with Jaxon Smith-Njigba has turned Seattle into a real passing threat.
8. Justin Herbert
Herbert leads the league in passing yards but also ranks near the top in attempts. He’s forced to carry a heavy load behind a shaky line, and while his seven interceptions hurt, his arm talent and volume keep the Chargers competitive every week.
9. Jalen Hurts
Hurts remains one of the game’s most dynamic players. He has thrown 15 touchdowns with only one interception and added five more scores on the ground. His running threat and red-zone efficiency make him one of the most complete quarterbacks in football.
10. Jordan Love
Love has been the definition of steady. Regardless of game script, he completes around 70 percent of his throws and rarely puts the ball in harm’s way. His poise has helped Green Bay stay balanced and efficient.
11. Dak Prescott
Dak continues to puzzle fans and analysts alike. At his best, he looks like a top-five quarterback, spreading the ball and running the offense to perfection. At his worst, he struggles with accuracy and decision-making. The talent is there, but the consistency is lacking.
12. Baker Mayfield
Mayfield’s grit and leadership are undeniable, but his accuracy has been shaky. He’s completing just under 64 percent of his passes and missing open receivers too often. The Buccaneers’ record flatters his performance, though he has done enough to keep them in playoff contention.
13. Bo Nix
Nix brings mobility and toughness to the position, avoiding sacks and extending plays with his legs. His confidence has grown, but accuracy remains an issue. If he can cut down on missed throws, he’ll climb this list quickly.
14. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers isn’t flashy anymore, but he remains efficient and dangerous in the red zone. His arm still works even if his legs don’t, and his 16 touchdowns have kept the Steelers’ offense afloat. A steady, if unspectacular, veteran presence.
15. Mac Jones
Jones has made the most of his chance filling in for Brock Purdy. He’s been efficient, completing 66 percent of his passes and showing solid command, but his turnovers are still a concern. He’s making a case to start somewhere next season.
16. C.J. Stroud
Stroud’s third year in Houston has been up and down. His numbers are middle of the pack, and he has struggled against winning teams. The arm talent is still there and his past four games have trended positively, but he needs to take another step in efficiency.
17. Jayden Daniels
Daniels was phenomenal as a rookie but has certainly taken a step back this season. He limits turnovers and adds valuable rushing production, yet his 61 percent completion rate shows how often he misses open receivers. Health will be key moving forward.
18. Kyler Murray / Jacoby Brissett
Both quarterbacks have been serviceable but not special. Murray brings athleticism, Brissett brings control, but neither has lifted Arizona beyond mediocrity. Their record tells the story.
19. Caleb Williams
The tools are undeniable, but the consistency is not. Williams still relies too heavily on improvisation and bailout throws rather than rhythm and timing. He’ll flash brilliance one drive, then make a head-scratching decision the next. Chicago’s supporting cast has improved, but Williams hasn’t elevated with it. The talent is obvious, but the polish and poise need serious work before he can be trusted to win consistently on Sundays.
20. Jaxson Dart
Dart has moments where he looks like a future franchise quarterback, followed by series where he looks overwhelmed. He has the arm strength to make every throw and the mobility to extend plays. He’s been dealt a tough hand this season with stud receiver Malik Nabers and rookie running back Cam Skattebo both lost to injuries. The growing pains are real, but so is the talent. With continued development, Dart could emerge as a top-12 quarterback by 2026.
21. Michael Penix Jr.
Penix’s transition to the pros has been rocky. Lingering knee issues have limited his mobility and disrupted the rhythm that made him so dynamic at Washington. His deep-ball accuracy has dipped, and his footwork still looks rushed under pressure. He’s only in his second year, so there’s time to get him back on track, but if we’re saying the same things a year from now, he’ll likely be viewed as a career backup at best.
22. Trevor Lawrence
It’s becoming fair to ask if this is simply who Trevor Lawrence is. He has all the physical traits scouts drool over, but after five seasons, he still hasn’t made the leap from promising to elite. The Jaguars paid him like a franchise cornerstone, yet his production sits in the middle of the pack. He remains turnover-prone and inconsistent with his reads. Unless something clicks soon, Jacksonville may be stuck with an expensive “good, not great” quarterback.
23. Tua Tagovailoa
Losing Tyreek Hill didn’t help, but this guy still has plenty of weapons and he just can’t break through on a consistent basis. He’s efficient when the first read is there, but struggles when forced to improvise or push the ball downfield. The turnovers are piling up, and the rhythm that once defined Mike McDaniel’s offense feels off. Tua remains good enough to win games when he has a loaded roster, but not yet the kind of quarterback who can carry a contender.
24. Joe Flacco
Flacco has given Cincinnati veteran stability and a pair of strong games, but his ceiling is limited. His experience matters, yet his 77.8 passer rating tells the bigger story.
25. Tyler Huntley
Huntley has been a capable fill-in for Lamar Jackson, completing 73 percent of his passes with no turnovers. He’s steady but unspectacular, exactly what a backup should be.
26. Bryce Young
Young was finally showing signs of progress before his recent injury. His overall efficiency still leaves plenty to be desired, but seven touchdowns to two interceptions over his last four games is a clear step forward. Hopefully he returns to the lineup this week and can build on that momentum.
27. Dillon Gabriel
The Dillon Gabriel experiment appears to have run its course. Gabriel has struggled to stretch the field and lacks the mobility to create when plays break down. His 4.9 yards per attempt ranks second-worst in the league, ahead of only Tyler Shough. It might be time to see what Shedeur can offer under center.
28. J.J. McCarthy
The second year pro hasn’t played enough to judge fairly. He showed promise in his debut but struggled the next week before his injury. He is slated to return this week, and Minnesota fans hope for more of the former.
29. Tyler Shough
Replacing Spencer Rattler mid-game against the Bucs wasn’t ideal, and Shough understandably struggled. He managed only 128 yards through the air, threw an interception, and was sacked twice. We’ll give the rookie the benefit of the doubt heading into his first professional start, but nothing we saw last week inspires much confidence about his future under center for the Saints.
30. Justin Fields
Despite leading the Jets to their first win on Sunday, let’s not forget it came against one of the league’s worst defenses in the Bengals. Fields has done a good job avoiding turnovers this season, but he hasn’t made many impact plays either. Even with clean pockets and open receivers, he still looks tentative. At this point, it’s hard to see him developing beyond a career backup.
31. Cam Ward
Ward’s rookie season has been a trial by fire. He’s been inaccurate and overwhelmed behind a weak line, taking a league-high 34 sacks. There’s still plenty of potential and no reason to panic yet, but the team needs to surround him with a lot more help next year if he’s going to take a real step forward.
32. Geno Smith
It’s been a tough year for Smith. His seven touchdowns and ten interceptions reflect a quarterback out of rhythm and out of answers. Unless something changes soon, this may be his final season as a starter.
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